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A little boy from Westchester is back with his best pal Echo, a Labrador retriever that went missing nine days ago. NBC 4 New York first reported 5-year-old Mark Fontana's story and now has the exclusive video of the boy and the dog's reunion. Marc Santia reports. (Published Friday, Nov. 15, 2013)

The boy's mother, Emily Fontana, said the family was "beyond thrilled and grateful" that Echo the dog was back home. Echo has been a best friend to 5-year-old Mark Fontana, who cannot communicate with words.

The woman who returned the dog told the family she saw news stories about the missing pup and brought her back.

"A good Samaritan found her and gave the dog to her sister in the Bronx, and the sister had Echo safe and sound," said Fontana. "She was on a couch, she was warm, she was fed, and we're so grateful for that."

Emily Fontana walked to school with Echo Friday afternoon to surprise Mark, and NBC 4 New York captured the happy reunion. Echo licked the boy's face as he laughed and smiled, emotions his mother hasn't seen since the dog disappeared.

Then Mark was tethered to Echo, his constant companion, and the old friends walked back home for the first time in nine days.